Article June 15, 1918 Issue

The attack on Christian Science and Christian Scientists...

Judge Clifford P. Smith—Indianapolis, Ind.

The Apostolic Review

The attack on Christian Science and Christian Scientists in a recent issue again illustrates the weakness of such attacks. Whoever is disposed to condemn parents for relying on Christian Science to prevent or cure disease for their children should at least stop to consider whether there is some other method of prevention or cure that is more reliable. Christian Scientists can speak on this point from experience; usually from experience with more than one system. Most of them have had at least the ordinary experience with material remedies, and have found that Christian Science is much more dependable. The use of law books made in the article was shortsighted. From a paragraph in one of them the critic cited a Wisconsin decision as if it were against Christian Science, without mentioning a New Hampshire decision stated as contrary to the Wisconsin decision in the same paragraph. Moreover, he failed to observe that the subject of the Wisconsin decision was not Christian Science but was spiritualism, and failed to ascertain or mention that the law of Wisconsin recognizes the practice of Christian Science, which it expressly does.

The other legal points set up in the same article were also mistaken or misleading. The fact is that the practice of Christian Science and reliance on it is lawful everywhere, except, possibly, in Germany. A Prussian judge, speaking in 1915, declared that Christian Science "is a teaching that is not in accord with the German spirit," which may be quite true; but an eminent New York judge, speaking in 1916, said, "I deny the power of the legislature to make it a crime to treat disease by prayer;" which is the American and Christian view.

Whether The Apostolic Review has given its readers a relish for attacks on Christian Science or Christian Scientists, may be best known to the editor. Sooner or later, however, they will learn in some manner that Christian Science is simply vital, practical, and complete Christianity. Meanwhile, all that Christian Scientists ask of the editor or contributors of The Apostolic Review, or any paper, is the measure of fairness defined by the golden rule.

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